A Heart That Knew No Bounds

Book excerpt: Marcellin Champagnat had a practical mind. This trait was evident throughout his life. He also had a strong will; it made him a determined and persistent leader. These qualities were great gifts. No doubt, at times, they could likewise be maddening. Like all of us, the future saint had those areas in his life where he fell short of the ideal. He is a saint not by his own merit, but rather because he allowed God's grace into his heart, where it took root and flourished. Marcellin Champagnat took seriously the Good News of Jesus Christ. He was a holy man because he lived his ordinary life exceptionally well, and did ordinary things with extraordinary love. Having discovered the joy of the gospel and letting it transform him, he wanted to share with other, particularly the young, all that he had seen and heard. "To love God," Marcellin often said, "to love God and to labor to make God known and loved--this is what a brother's life should be." With these few words, the future saint painted his own portrait and recounted his own story. His was a heart that knew no bounds.